The story of Swan Hill begins in the 1960s when Jewel and A.W. Swan purchased a large tract of land in Lamar County and gifted each of their eight children parcels to build family homes. Years later, when granddaughter Jen Ladner was ten years old, her parents, Helen and Bill Sterling, began building their modest ranch-style home with the essentials for their family of four on their 40-acre private portion at the back of the property. “It was such a unique and special experience to grow up with aunts, uncles, and cousins nearby in the setting of a family compound,” Jen speaks of Swan Hill. “No matter where life took me, I always found my way back to this place that raised me.”
After the loss of her parents and then her sister in 2021, Jen couldn’t fathom letting the house go with all of the memories it held. Her husband, Kenny, appreciated and supported the passion she carried to breathe new life into the home. Jen and Kenny live and work in Louisiana and also live part-time at their home in Orange Beach, Alabama. Jen reached out to Sted McCullough of McCullough Architecture, with whom they collaborated on their beach home. The call resulted in a chain reaction of possibilities. Sted connected the Ladners with Ted Cotton of Cotton Construction in Hattiesburg, who introduced Jen to Lindsey Harris, an interior designer at Anderson Design Center. This team of creatives worked to craft Jen’s vision of rebuilding her family home to showcase her own personal style and the beloved memories created there.
Jen and Kenny had three main goals to achieve in transitioning the house into their home. The first priority was to change the front elevation from a ranch to more of a French Colonial façade with minimal disruption to the existing structure. Jen then wanted to raise the eight-foot ceiling height in as many spaces as possible. Lastly, they needed to add a third bathroom. With these goals in mind, Ted took the home down to the studs, removed several walls, and built the small addition. With a plan in place for the structure, the contractor saw the need for a designer to help with finishing details and specifications. Lindsey Harris and junior interior designer Holland Askey were tasked to produce renderings, which played pivotal roles in accomplishing this. “We produced 3-D computer renderings for each room of the home, detailing specifics for several different style ceilings, cabinetry throughout, a gorgeous cased opening between the foyer and dining room, and the indoor and outdoor fireplace surrounds,” Lindsey states. “Ted worked from the renderings to fabricate millwork samples for several areas. Being able to see and modify the details in person ensured the finished product aligned with the vision.”
The interior spaces reflect a French Colonial style, also prevalent in the Ladner’s primary home in Louisiana, which seamlessly blends comfort and elegance. “Each room exudes a timeless charm, characterized by custom ceiling details and intricate millwork that showcases the craftsmanship and adds depth to the design,” Lindsey notes. These intricate aspects elevate the home’s aesthetic and add a sense of classic sophistication throughout. “Despite its elegance, the home remains warm and inviting, balancing the traditional design elements with practical, livable features,” she adds. “Soft finishes, subtle patterns, and thoughtfully chosen accessories add layers of comfort, making the spaces as functional as they are beautiful.”
Jen chose to keep the walls, trim, and ceilings a warm white to provide a neutral backdrop to inject color and pattern without overwhelming the small scale of the rooms. Art, accessories, fabrics, and wallpaper were key components here. With the expertise of her designers, Jen’s utilization of wallcoverings and coordinating fabrics is a common theme that creates a cohesive design. The lighting selections add another sparkling layer of style and personality. Lindsey and Holland selected fixtures such as the kitchen pendants and sconces, while Jen customized statement pieces for the key areas, including the dining room, living room, and primary bathroom. “Lighting serves as the jewelry of the home,” Lindsey notes. “These ensure these spaces exude a unique and luxurious charm.”
Jen’s style has a heavy European influence as she carefully and expertly mixes new and old elements that help tell the home’s story. Her father was an accomplished carpenter and long ago collaborated with Jen on several projects that remain in the house to this day, including a wall mirror in the master suite—a gift to her mother and a sweet memory of the two of them. Small childhood portraits hanging in the dining room are those of Jen’s grandparents who gifted Swan Hill, and a chair in the master bathroom was her sister’s vanity chair, now reupholstered. “A love of antiques and vintage pieces led me to shops that my sister and I frequented as she shared my passion for design and beautiful spaces, too,” she reminisces. “I was so fortunate to acquire many of the original art pieces as well as lighting fixtures from talented artisans I have worked with over the years.” She worked with RF Antiques in Fairhope, Alabama, to design unique bedside tables and a custom dresser by a craftsperson in Italy. “The entire home is a showcase, with beauty at every turn, both inside and out,” Lindsey notes. “Jen’s thoughtful selection and placement of furniture, artwork, and accessories brought the finishing touches, elevating the space to a stunning masterpiece.”
Though the couple travels regularly between their trio of homes, Jen is at Swan Hill as often as possible to stay connected with cousins and friends, though only one aunt remains on the family property. Other members have passed or moved away, and their properties sold outside the family. Jen is grateful to accomplish her desire to both honor her childhood and make the property better for the future. “There are many beautiful places in this house to enjoy, but my favorite is sitting on my mother’s swing on the screen porch,” she smiles. “It is such a blessing to share our home and to reconnect and make new memories.” Their son, Kennedy, lives in Louisiana and works for the family business. He was also blessed to spend time with his grandparents at Swan Hill and experience childhood as his mother once did. “This particular home is the most precious to me given its history,” she states. “It is a place that brings immeasurable peace.”